BHP Insurance Irish Champion Hurdle |
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| Grade 1, Leopardstown 15:30 Race Value: €150,000 4yo plus, 2m, Class 1  |
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| Saturday 3rd February 2018 | |
1 Supasundae 8/1
2 Faugheen 9/10 F
3 Mick Jazz 8/1
8 ran Distances: 2¼l, 4¾l, 4½l
Time: 4m 0.90s (slow by 15.90s)
Supasundae gets the better of Faugheen for Jessica Harrington and Robbie Rower
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Jessica Harrington has reiterated her intention to run Supasundae in the Sun Bets Stayers' Hurdle at Cheltenham next month.
The eight-year-old put up a career-best performance to get the better of the mighty Faugheen, sparking inevitable suggestions in some quarters he could be supplemented for the Unibet Champion Hurdle.
Harrington, however, was firm in her view the three-mile showpiece on March 15 would be his destination at the Festival, and that assertion had not changed on Sunday morning.
She said: "I said to Robert (Power) to stalk Faugheen all the way, if Faugheen is Faugheen we won't win but we've got a good chance of finishing in the money.
"Faugheen led on Saturday, he (Supasundae) got a grand run in the race, he wasn't hassled, just stalking Faugheen, so I think he got the run of the race instead of having to make the running as he did at Christmas and then got pounced on by Apple's Jade.
"He definitely goes for the Stayers'. We're better off going for the three-miler, I know he stays three miles and I'm very happy to go there, especially as the ground will be drier in Cheltenham and it will suit him even better."
Speaking to Racing UK, she added: "I think he has (improved). His jumping has really improved, he wasn't a very natural jumper, even when he was with Henry (de Bromhead) he wasn't that fluent over his hurdles. This year he has just gone on improving and improving."
Supasundae's stablemate Jezki was fourth, and Harrington was pleased with the performance of the 2014 Champion Hurdle hero.
She said: "I was delighted with him, coming back to two miles with blinkers on.
"Before the last he showed that little bit of snap and dash, he might just have got a bit tired on the ground but he will improve with better ground and I'd say he'll most likely go to Aintree and Punchestown.
"He has no entry in Cheltenham."
BHP Insurance Irish Champion Hurdle
2m , Race Value: €150,000
8 ran
Going: Soft
| Pos | D | Horse SP | Jockey Weight | Trainer | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Supasundae 8/1 | R M Power 11-10 |
Mrs J Harrington | 8 | |
| 2nd | 2¼ | Faugheen (IRE) 9/10f | P Townend 11-10 |
W P Mullins | 10 |
| 3rd | 4¾ | Mick Jazz (FR) 8/1 | D N Russell 11-10 |
G Elliott | 7 |
| 4th | 4½ | Jezki (IRE) 25/1 | M P Walsh 11-10 |
Mrs J Harrington | 10 |
| 5th | nk | Melon 7/2 | D J Mullins 11-10 |
W P Mullins | 6 |
| 6th | 14 | Identity Thief (IRE) 40/1 | S W Flanagan 11-10 |
H de Bromhead | 8 |
| 7th | ¾ | Defi Du Seuil (FR) 9/1 | R Johnson 11-9 |
P J Hobbs | 5 |
| 8th | 4½ | Bapaume (FR) 9/1 | Ms K Walsh 11-9 |
W P Mullins | 5 |
